Marijuana Policy Project

P.O. Box 77492 Capitol Hill

Washington, D.C. 20013
info@mpp.org www.mpp.org

2014 Annual Report

Published May 2015

MPPs mission is to regulate marijuana

similarly to alcohol in the United States.

number of marijuana arrests in the country

number of marijuana arrests in the country

900,000
850,000
800,000
750,000
700,000
650,000
600,000
550,000
500,000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

An annual FBI report released at the end of 2014 revealed that there were 693,481
marijuana-related arrests in 2013 87% of which were for simple possession, not sale or
manufacture. Thats one arrest every 51 seconds.
2014 marked the Marijuana Policy Projects 20th year of reforming our nations harmful
marijuana policies. MPP made significant advances toward reform, and MPP Foundation
the tax-deductible branch of the organization continued to educate the public about
the effects of marijuana prohibition.
One indication of our success has been the groundswell of support weve received
through our online outreach. MPP leverages social networking and media to build online
coalitions ready to take action on our work.
We currently have:
98,000 followers on Twitter;
330,000 likes on our Facebook page; and
195,000 email subscribers
With nearly 10 million views and 22,650 subscribers, MPPs YouTube channel is key to our
online messaging strategy.
MPPs Web site and blog receive millions of visits each year and allow us to communicate
with the public, activists, and reporters in a conversational and up-to-the-minute way.

How do state marijuana laws offer protection when marijuana

use remains a federal crime?
Because 99% of all marijuana arrests in the U.S. are made by state and
local not federal officials, changing state laws will reduce the number
of marijuana arrests by 99%. It is also important to note that the federal
government cannot force states to have laws identical to federal law, nor can
the federal government force state and local police to enforce federal law.

Marijuana Policy Project

2014 Annual Report

alaska
On November 4, the Campaign to
Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska,
a ballot initiative campaign backed by
MPP, passed Ballot Measure 2, making
Alaska the fourth state to end marijuana
prohibition and replace it with a system in
which marijuana is taxed and regulated like
alcohol. The measure was approved with
53% of the vote.
Specifically,the Alaska initiative made
the use, possession, and home-growing
of marijuana legal for adults 21 years of
age and older, in addition to establishing
a system in which commercial marijuana
cultivation and retail sales of marijuana are
regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol.

MPPs Chris Rempert discusses the Alaska campaigns bus

ads in Anchorage, along with statewide media plans, on
local CBS news in Anchorage on July 28.

MPP played the leading role in every aspect of this campaign. We

assumed a leadership role in the drafting of the initiative, during
which we solicited feedback from key lawyers, organizational and
community leaders, and unaffiliated activists. MPP then coordinated
the statewide signature drive to place the initiative on the November
2014 ballot.By far and away, MPP was the campaigns largest financial
backer.

2014 Elections
Oregon legalizes marijuana
On November 4, Oregon became
the third state to legalize marijuana.
Similar to Colorados law, Oregons law
allows adults to legally use, possess, and
cultivate limited amounts of marijuana,
along with creating licensed marijuana
businesses across the state.

Washington, D.C. approves

marijuana initiative
In the District of Columbia, 70%
of voters approved a measure that
legalized marijuana possession and
home cultivation in our nations capital.

Marijuana Policy Project

South Portland, Maine passes

marijuana legalization initiative
MPPs local ballot initiative to legalize
marijuana possession in South
Portland was also successful. Residents
in South Portland can no longer be
fined, arrested, or jailed for small-time
marijuana possession. A similar MPPsponsored initiative made Portland,
Maine the first East Coast city to legalize
marijuana possession in November 2013.

58% of Florida voters approve

medical marijuana
In Florida, 58% of voters voted for
Amendment 2, which would have
allowed seriously ill people to access
medical marijuana if their doctors
recommend it. Unfortunately, the
measure failed, because 60% approval
was required for adoption.
2014 Annual Report

maryland
On April 14, Gov. Martin OMalley (D)
signed legislation to remove criminal
penalties for possession of small amounts
of marijuana. As a result, adults 21 and
older will now face only a civil fine for
possessing less than one-third of an ounce
of marijuana, instead of criminal penalties
and possible jail time.
The same day, Gov. OMalley signed twin
bills significantly expanding Marylands
medical-marijuana law. Patients with a
range of medical conditions will now be
allowed to possess up to a 30-day supply of
medical marijuana that they purchase from
state-licensed dispensaries. This marks the
first time that a state has ever passed three
(or even two) good marijuana bills at the
same time.

practices, and the future of the industry at a

national level. Speakers included prominent
industry insiders and political operatives.

On October 8, MPP hosted a cannabusiness seminar in Maryland to educate

entrepreneurs about Marylands new
medical-marijuana law, best industry

MPP has been lobbying heavily in

Maryland since 2000, and well continue to
do so, with the goal of passing a bill to tax
and regulate marijuana like alcohol.

MPPs Rachelle Yeung discusses the benefits of regulating

marijuana in Maryland on local ABC news in Annapolis on
February 17.

minnesota
On May 29, Minnesota became the 22nd
state to legalize medical marijuana.
Gov. Mark Dayton (D) signed a bill that
will allow people suffering from cancer,
HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, and other medical
conditions to access medical marijuana if
their doctors recommend it.
MPP began lobbying for medicalmarijuana legislation in Minnesota in
2005; 2014, like previous years, was full of
roadblocks. In response to Gov. Dayton
threatening to veto any bill that did not
have the support of law enforcement, MPP
launched hard-hitting TV ads in opposition.
Gov. Dayton declared our bill dead on
multiple occasions, and we organized
protests that ultimately revived it. And
when the governor proposed a completely
unworkable compromise bill, we organized
a powerful grassroots response that
stopped his proposal in its tracks.

Marijuana Policy Project

MPP-backed Minnesotans for Compassionate Care

spokesperson Heather Azzi discusses an unworkable
medical-marijuana proposal being considered in the state
House on the ABC affiliate in St. Paul on May 1.
The new law is by no means perfect,
but it will provide approximately 5,000
Minnesotans with the ability to access and
use medical marijuana. MPP will return to
Minnesota to improve upon the new law,
in order to ensure that every patient in
Minnesota who could benefit from medical
marijuana has the right to do so.
2014 Annual Report

congress
On December 13, Congress passed an amendment to prohibit the U.S. Justice Department
(which includes the DEA) from spending taxpayer money to interfere with state-level
medical-marijuana laws. This marks the first time in history that Congress has approved
legislation rolling back the federal governments war on marijuana.
The passage of the amendment was the seventh attempt, after six unsuccessful votes
between 2003 and 2012.

in the news
New York passes medical
marijuana bill

On July 5, New York became the

23rd medical-marijuana state when
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) signed the
Compassionate Care Act into law.
Unfortunately, the law is much more
limited than what was originally
introduced, largely because of
amendments that Gov. Cuomo insisted
upon. Many seriously ill patients will
be left behind -- at least initially -and patients wont be able to smoke
marijuana (instead vaporizing or eating
marijuana products). However, this is
a vital step forward for patients in the
Empire State. MPP and our allies worked
for a decade to pass this measure.

Building support for

decriminalization in Illinois

Illinois lawmakers introduced three

bills that would either reduce or remove
criminal penalties for small amounts of
marijuana. One of these bills would not
only allow people to avoid arrest and jail
time, but the bill would also completely

eliminate any criminal record. MPP will

work to pass this legislation in 2015,
following on the heels of our success with
legalizing medical marijuana in Illinois in
2013.

Medical marijuana poised to move

forward in Pennsylvania
On November 4, Tom Wolf (D) defeated
incumbent Gov. Tom Corbett (R),
signaling progress for marijuana policy
reform in the Keystone State. Wolf is
in favor of medical marijuana, so the
MPP staff will work to pass a medicalmarijuana bill in Harrisburg in 2015.

Decriminalization bill introduced

in Texas

On December 15, a bill was introduced

that would make the possession of small
amounts of marijuana punishable by
a $100 civil fine, as opposed to arrest,
jail time, and a criminal conviction. The
MPP staff will continue working to build
support for decriminalization in 2015, as
part of a six-year legislative campaign to
improve marijuana laws in Texas.

mpp buys new office

After 19 years of existence, MPP was finally able to
afford the down payment for an office in Washington,
D.C. We moved into it in mid-February. Our new office,
which is located exactly two miles north of the White
House, is a 4,040-square-foot suite that comprises nearly
the entire first floor of a residential building in a mixed
business/residential neighborhood. In addition to being
larger than our former, rented space, our new office saves
MPP thousands of dollars each month.
Marijuana Policy Project

MPP Foundation purchased the first floor

of this building in Washington, D.C.

2014 Annual Report

colorado: first year of sales

On November 6, 2012, 55% of Colorado
voters passed MPPs ballot initiative that
made Colorado the first place in the world
to legalize the possession, use, production,
distribution, and personal cultivation
of marijuana. MPP worked to properly
implement the law in 2013, and marijuana
sales to adults began on January 1, 2014.
After the close of the first year selling
marijuana in retail stores, the system
continues to work well. Licensed marijuana
businesses are paying taxes. Based on
Uniform Crime Report data for Denver,

overall crime is down 2.9% in 2014, and

violent crime is down by 1.9%. Burglaries at
dispensaries are at a record low. And teen
use dropped 2% in the first year marijuana
possession was legal.
Legal marijuana sales have also created
a boom in Colorados economy, with
combined medical and recreational
marijuana sales hitting $700 million in 2014.
Medical and recreational marijuana sales
earned the state government close to $1.5
million per week in tax revenues, totaling
about $76 million in tax revenues in 2014.

consume responsibly campaign

With recently legalized marijuana sales in
Colorado and Washington, it was inevitable
that some people would use marijuana
irresponsibly. In fact, there were a few highprofile stories about people consuming
too much marijuana particularly when
it comes to edibles. One such instance
involved reporter Maureen Dowd, who
intentionally ate multiple doses of a
marijuana-infused candy bar and chronicled
her negative experience in a widely
publicized op-ed in The New York Times.
In light of this and similar situations, on
September 16, MPP launched the Consume

Marijuana Policy Project

Responsibly campaign the first-ever

comprehensive public-education effort
urging adults to consume responsibly in
states where marijuana is legal.
Emphasizing the need to start low and
go slow when consuming edibles, the
campaign kicked off with a prominent
billboard in Denver and immediately
generated headlines nationwide.
This public-education campaign was made
possible with funding from MedBox, a Los
Angeles company that makes medicinedispensing machines, which donated
$75,000 toward the effort.

2014 Annual Report

mpp in the news

Mason Tvert, MPPs director of communications,
discusses the successful implementation of
legalized marijuana sales in Colorado.
CNN, January 3

MPPs Mason Tvert debates the benefits

of regulating marijuana nationwide.
HLNs Nancy Grace, January 15

Rob Kampia, MPPs executive director,

announces a five-year plan for legalizing
marijuana in Texas.
NBC news in Austin, March 1

Chris Lindsey, legislative analyst for MPP, discusses

the advantages of decriminalizing marijuana and
expunging marijuana charges from offenders
criminal records.
ABC news in Chicago, April 3

Matt Simon, legislative analyst for MPP,

discusses the growing support for legalization
in New Hampshire.
ABC news in Concord, April 9

David Boyer, MPPs Maine political director,

discusses efforts to place a local legalization
initiative on the November ballot.
CBS news in South Portland, August 27

Marijuana Policy Project

2014 Annual Report

2014 actual expenses

MPP 501(c)(4)

MPP Foundation 501(c)(3)

staff (includes taxes and benefits)

732,967

1,157,351

consultants

6,000

4,000

online services (membership, legislation, media)

74,296

126,726

occupancy (rent or mortgage)

21,696

97,933

hard costs (insurance, phones, supplies, conferences)

72,649

184,879

loan interest / list rental payments

29,032

event: reception in New York City

5,535

event: seminar in Bethesda, Maryland

11,586

fundraising (other than events)

82,803

71,673

lobbyists in state legislatures

211,323

27,229

pressure tactics with state legislatures

92,898

3,134

donations to candidates

44,100

public opinion polling

7,500

miscellaneous programmatic work

7,612

50,069

grants to outside organizations

8,000

37,800

building Facebook and email lists

21,175

Alaska initiative (legalization in 2014)

676,346

Arizona initiative (legalization in 2016)

54,178

358

California initiative (legalization in 2016)

384

48

Maine initiative (legalization in 2016)

19,854

979

Massachusetts initiative (legalization in 2016)

95

490

Nevada initiative (legalization in 2016)

82,388

190,422

TOTAL EXPENSES

2,228,207

1,987,301

Marijuana Policy Project

2014 Annual Report

2014 actual revenues

MPP 501(c)(4)

MPP Foundation 501(c)(3)

loan interest / list rental / royalties

16,578

31,039

rental payments from MPP for DC headquarters

23,000

reimbursements from previous campaigns

14,299

grants program

40,000

event: reception in New York City

event: seminar in Bethesda, Maryland

38,575

donations (less than $100,000 each)

776,053

471,474

donations ($100,000+ each)

300,910

287,000

donations (from MPP board)

870,771

525,000

Combined Federal Campaign

78,390

bequest

200,000

TOTAL REVENUES

2,017,186

1,655,903

actual balance sheet for 12/31/14

MPP 501(c)(4)

MPP Foundation 501(c)(3)

ASSETS
cash [1]

112,086

270,693

DC headquarters (ownership)

824,900

computers/equipment

11,341

15,594

MPPs debt to MPP Foundation

200,000

LIABILITIES
credit card debt

3,951

14,405

DC headquarters (mortgage)

651,000

MPPs debt to MPP Foundation

200,000

NET ASSETS ON 12/31/2014

-80,524

645,782

[1]: MPP will need to stockpile cash in 2015 in order to afford five ballot-initiative campaigns (in AZ/CA/MA/ME/NV) for 2016.

Marijuana Policy Project

2014 Annual Report

2015 projected expenses

MPP 501(c)(4)

10

MPP Foundation 501(c)(3)

staff (includes taxes and benefits)

1,009,000

1,375,000

consultants

3,000

2,000

online services (membership, legislation, media)

97,000

174,000

occupancy (rent or mortgage)

28,000

119,000

hard costs (insurance, phones, supplies, conferences)

83,000

217,000

loan interest / list rental payments

22,000

event: reception in New York City

5,000

event: reception in Los Angeles

5,000

event: reception in San Francisco

5,000

event: arm-wrestling in Denver

1,000

event: 20th anniversary gala in D.C.

79,000

event: seminar in Anchorage

5,000

fundraising (other than events)

87,000

96,000

lobbyists in state legislatures

193,000

113,000

pressure tactics with state legislatures

94,000

donations to candidates

9,000

public opinion polling

68,000

miscellaneous programmatic work

7,000

43,000

grants to outside organizations

16,000

48,000

building Facebook and email lists

40,000

Arizona initiative (legalization in 2016)

213,000

California initiative (legalization in 2016)

300,000

4,000

Maine initiative (legalization in 2016)

206,000

10,000

Massachusetts initiative (legalization in 2016)

63,000

210,000

Nevada initiative (legalization in 2016)

4,000

2,000

TOTAL EXPENSES

2,440,000

2,615,000

Marijuana Policy Project

2014 Annual Report

2015 projected revenues

MPP 501(c)(4)

MPP Foundation 501(c)(3)

loan interest / list rental / royalties

12,000

23,000

rental payments from MPP for DC headquarters

24,000

grants program

5,000

event: reception in New York City

event: reception in Los Angeles

event: reception in San Francisco

event: arm-wrestling in Denver

6,000

event: 20th anniversary gala in D.C.

88,000

event: seminar in Anchorage

25,000

donations (less than $100,000 each)

860,000

524,000

donations ($100,000+ each)

1,563,000

1,150,000

donations (from MPP board)

1,164,000

675,000

Combined Federal Campaign

93,000

bequest

18,000

TOTAL REVENUES

3,630,000

2,600,000

projected balance sheet for 12/31/15

MPP 501(c)(4)

MPP Foundation 501(c)(3)

ASSETS
cash [1]

1,098,135

441,288

DC headquarters (ownership)

850,000

computers/equipment

13,000

17,000

DC headquarters (mortgage)

640,000

NET ASSETS ON 12/31/2015

1,111,135

668,288

LIABILITIES

[1]: MPP will need to stockpile cash in 2015 in order to afford five ballot-initiative campaigns (in AZ/CA/MA/ME/NV) for 2016.

Marijuana Policy Project

2014 Annual Report

11

MPPs and MPP Foundations Board of Directors

Jon Beach
Bill Dunn
John Gilmore
Justin Hartfield
Rob Kampia
Tripp Keber
Frayda Levy
Jeff Moe
Joby Pritzker
Rene Ruiz
James Slatic
Adam Wiggins
Troy Dayton (MPP only)
MPP & MPP Foundation Key Staff
Rob Kampia
executive director

Lindsay Robinson
director of development

Karen OKeefe
director of state policies

Kelley Crosson
major gifts officer
New York and Florida

Mason Tvert
director of communications

Sarah Lovering
major gifts officer
Southern California and Arizona